Brazilian dentist's knowledge of minimum intervention dentistry for caries management: application of a developed knowledge scale (MIDDeC-KS) and evaluation of its psychometric properties.

Abstract

To assess the knowledge of Brazilian dentists about Minimum Intervention (MI) using a Minimum Intervention Dentistry to Dental Caries-Knowledge Scale (MIDDeC-KS) and evaluate its psychometric properties. An online scale was developed to evaluate dentists' knowledge about MI. The higher the score, the greater the knowledge and vice versa. A preliminary study was carried out with 143 dentists to validate the MIDDeC-KS. For psychometric properties analysis, convergent and discriminant validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency of the instrument were assessed. After validation, MIDDeC-KS was applied to a representative sample of Brazilian dentists. T test for independent samples, Chi-square, and/or ANOVA one-way tests were applied. The MIDDeC-KS convergent (Spearman's = 0.48) and discriminant (P = 0.001) validity and reliability (ICC = 0.85, α = 0.72 and ω = 0.74) were proved. The participants (n = 637) obtained an overall mean score of 7.4 ± 2.5. The sample was mainly composed of females (P < 0.01), who graduated over 10 years prior (P = 0.02), from public colleges (P < 0.01), and most were pediatric dentists (38.2%). The highest and lowest scores were reached by pediatric dentists (9.2 ± 1.6) and bucomaxillofacial professionals (3.1 ± 2.1), respectively. Brazilian dentists demonstrated more knowledge about diet, biofilm, and topical fluoride control (84.3%), while the Hall technique (31.9%), resin infiltrant (47.6%), and chemical mechanical caries removal (48.4%) were the least known MI techniques. Brazilian dentists demonstrated more knowledge about preventive measures and less about more recent protocols, such as the Hall technique, resin infiltrant, and chemical mechanical caries tissue removal. Sufficient psychometric evidence of the MIDDeC-KS was found. Identify dentist's knowledge about MI.